Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Laurent Mekies all voiced strong criticism of how the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was handled, particularly targeting the long delay and the extended presence of the safety car. The race, which took place under difficult weather conditions, was delayed by around 80 minutes and then began with four full laps behind the safety car before the rolling start was given — decisions that triggered frustration among several key figures in the Formula 1 paddock.
Laurent Mekies, the newly appointed Team Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, openly questioned the decisions made by Race Director Rui Marques. Mekies’ remarks were followed by criticism from Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen and Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton felt the response from race control was “excessive,” and he suggested that the officials were being overly cautious due to fear of repeating what happened at Silverstone in previous years. Max Verstappen also voiced frustration, stating that the officials had been “far too cautious” and warning that with heavier rainfall expected, it could lead to another three hours of delays.
Laurent Mekies elaborated further on the issue, saying: “We were surprised by the delay. While we understand that the FIA carried out assessments, we were not expecting such a long wait as a team. We had very little time on the wet track, and our setup — which had been optimised for a wet race — was negatively affected.”
Some defend the FIA’s cautious approach
Despite the backlash, some drivers and team leaders defended the FIA’s cautious decisions. Given the extremely challenging weather conditions and the dramatic past incidents that have occurred at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit — including fatal crashes in 2019 and 2023 — many within the paddock considered the high level of caution to be fully justified. The tragic history of the Belgian circuit has made safety a top priority, especially in wet weather scenarios.
The ongoing controversy over Full Wet tyres
Another hot topic that reignited debate during the Belgian Grand Prix was the almost complete lack of use of the Pirelli Full Wet tyres. Although these tyres are specifically developed for heavy rain conditions, drivers almost never use them in races. Formula 1 drivers, including George Russell of Mercedes-AMG Petronas, described them as practically useless due to their poor performance. The Full Wet tyres are reportedly up to six or seven seconds per lap slower than the Intermediate compounds, making them an unattractive option under most race conditions.
Pirelli acknowledged the issue, explaining that the problem is not just related to visibility caused by heavy spray, but also involves excessive overheating and insufficient grip. These issues are largely due to the small tread blocks, which heat up quickly and provide limited contact with the track surface — especially in semi-wet or drying conditions.
To address the situation, Pirelli is currently developing a new compound referred to as the “super-intermediate.” This new tyre is designed to bridge the gap between the current Intermediate and Full Wet tyres, offering more consistent performance, greater durability, and better handling in changing weather conditions. Testing for the super-intermediate compound is already planned ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Wet racing in the ground-effect era: is it becoming impossible?
A popular comment circulating on Reddit reflects the general feeling among fans and insiders alike: “The current ground-effect cars displace water from underneath, but the massive spray makes visibility almost zero… this evolution in car design has essentially made proper wet races impossible.”
The combination of organisational confusion, excessive delays, and questionable tyre performance has reignited the longstanding debate within Formula 1 between ensuring maximum safety and delivering a compelling sporting spectacle. For now, the controversy surrounding the use of wet tyres remains unresolved. However, there is hope that the arrival of the new “super-intermediate” compound in 2026 may finally offer a practical solution for wet-weather racing in modern Formula 1.
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